STUDIES ON PHYTONEMATODE COMMUNITY INTERACTIONS ON SOYBEAN

Interactions among plant parasitic nematodes were studied under glassh ouse conditions on soybean crop. Results thus obtained indicated an in crease in population after 45 days on experimentation when inoculated individually,whereas Tylenchorhynchus vulgaris suppressed population o f Helicotylenchus dihystera. Similarly, Meloidogyne incognita also red uced Hoplolaimus indicus population. Plant length and weight (shoot an d root) were lowest in the treatments when mixed populations were adde d together. However, Rotylenchulus reniformis and H. indicus had least effect on the plant growth. This indicated that two or more populatio n levels together were found to be more damaging, hence, use of nemati cides has scope to combat the nematodes attack on soybean crop.